What is it about this time of year?

[Snorty]

...that makes car drivers seem absolutely oblivious to your presence.

I've had loads of near misses recently. Most recent one is a car deciding they don't want to give way to the right on a roundabout. Mini roundabout, I'm going across it, car on left sets off before I've even finished and comes within inches of hitting the side of my bike! Only swerving saved me there.

This morning, line of traffic queuing in opposite direction, straight road, I'm doing a sensible speed - car begins to pull across my lane before slamming his brakes on, after I've just done the same.

Absolute morons. I feel like I'm being targeted! Anybody else feel there are loads of idiots recently?!

When you give them some grief they act as if you're the one in the wrong.
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Current: Yamaha FZ1 '07 | GSXR 750 SRAD

Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4

[Knightsy]

Most bikes sit in the garage this time of the year so they're less expecting of us.
Those of us who are still out and about are an exception of the rule. This doesn't excuse poor driving mind you,
but that's the reality of what we're dealing with.

So...
https://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/keep-calm-and-swear-loudly.png
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09' Versys 650 | 07' FJR1300A

[Rogerborg]

I always assume that they can't see me. Winter just confirms it.

SMIDSY weave, smile and wave.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[chickenstrip]

I don't think it's any different to any other time of year. As Rogerborg says, you just have to assume no one can see you and expect them to pull out on you.

But this thing with mini roundabouts - FFS, when will people figure out that THEY'RE JUST ROUNDABOUTS!! Treat them the same as any other, pleeeease! It's like there's some great mystery to them.

[Fladdem]

I was out about 2 weeks ago, was coming off a roundabout and a woman not even looking pulls out straight in front of me, bearing in mind, I'm cranked over on knobbly tyres.

I managed to swerve and stay on the bike, somehow there was still some more lean to be gained. I think the best bet is assume they haven't seen you, and stay calm.

I just stared at her and tapped my lid, as if to say think. Stupid bint.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

[-Matt-]

Haven't been on the bike this winter so far yet - although I agree this time of year does seem to be worse from past years riding. I think like Knightsy said theres significantly less bikers about, so car drivers forget about their presence more than ever.

[TheSmiler]

Agree with Roger, just be more observant and do the weave when nearing junctions.
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CB125>CG125>GN125>ER5>K100RS>R1100RS>K100RS
A2 completed 23/07/15 Ready for the Golden Crisp Packet

[MattJ]

A woman opened her drivers door about half a foot as I was filtering past yesterday. And then a couple of miles up the road I was sat between a lorry and car at the front of some traffic lights (2 lanes), with another set of traffic lights about 100 yards up the road for a pedestrian crossing. Pedestrian crossing lights go green and both the lorry and the car next to me just go straight through on red, along with the car behind the lorry and forced the people coming from the right, who actually were on a green light, to stop.

Then further up the road as I went past the lorry I could see he was texting

[MC]

[Dave70]

Had a couple of drivers trying to change lane without noticing that I'm there recently.

Also discovered that there seems to have been a change in the highway code and that apparently you're now supposed to give way to the left at roundabouts too.

Another thing that's happened a couple of times in the last few days, is women pulling out of parking spaces in car parks at the shops, without even looking to see if anything's coming, not even a slight glance sideways. Although, I put that down to the fact that womens brains seem to fall out of their heads whenever they are near to a shop and they just turn into zombies tbf.

[TheSmiler]

[Raffles]

[_mjs_]

I seem to be invisible to dopey pedestrians this winter, I've had to slam on a few times recently which isn't fun on frosty roads.

Really I should get a camera mounted on the bike somewhere so I'm covered and just run them over.
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Previous Bikes: 2006 Honda XR125L > 2003 Yamaha DT125R > 1996 Honda CB500
Current bikes: 1997 Kawasaki ZZR 600 E5 > 2006 Honda Varadero XL125V

[chickenstrip]

[sabian92]

I wear this lid and this jacket and people still pull out on me.

https://i.imgur.com/wC5Ejzy.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/xvhME5M.jpg

[mikesaa309]

[SQL]

What's the difference between red and green?

Fuck all, apparently, if you're a cyclist.




Related I had a suicyclist jump the lights on me and nearly took him out making him wobble.

[MC]

[Pigeon]

Yep, had 3 incidents in last week of cars coming onto roundabouts trying to drive through me. My lights are on, clean, I got the hi-viz and white lid etc It's just that time of year. ie more than usual

Weird thing about cold, wet winter nights. You get half the cars driving at 25% their normal speed and the other half 150% of their normal speed.

Still, its the most exciting part of my day

[mrb-solutions]

[c-m]

[sabian92]

[Amber Phoenix]

Had this SMIDSY double bill the other night. Twice in 1 minute idiots pulled out on me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXc6XZ6VM8I

The visibility for the second motorist wasn't great, but the first was quite blatantly blind as a bat or drunk as he pulled out of the pub. :-\

Just goes to show hi-vis isn't the be all and end all. Still have to assume you're invisible.
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Beginner Biker Adventures Blog
Yamaha FZ6 S2 2007

[beardface]

Watched some helmet on a divvy straightline a few roundabouts and mr whitevanman nearly took him out - was bikes fault but it didn't stop him gesticulating wildly at said van driver
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www.soundcloud.com/bodren

[Darth-Simba]

Tell me about it, I was nearly T-Boned at speed the other day. Damn chav mobile was pulling into the road and he was blocked by traffic and started edging to my side of the road, shit me up big time.
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Yamaha YBR 125cc 11 plate